Indian states Telangana, Jammu and Kashmir have become the latest to implement LED lighting replacement projects under the country’s Domestic Efficient Lighting Program (DELP), according to Indian media reports.

LED A-line lamps surged 226.7% during 4Q15 on a year-over-year basis. Meanwhile, halogen A-line lamps posted a year-over-year increase of 8.7%, and incandescent A-line lamps increased by 7.8 % while compact fluorescents lamps (CFL) dropped 56%. Compared to 3Q15, LED shipments rose 18.4 percent, halogen A-lines increased 0.8%, and CFL shipments saw a quarter-to-quarter increase of 6.5%. In contrast, incandescent A-line lamp shipments decreased 16.7% on a quarter-over-quarter basis.

With ties to many major international companies in over 40 markets, Mackwell has appointed a General Manager of Middle East, India and Africa (MEIA) to oversee the business strategy in this region, further develop connections and market share in the UAE region and develop Mackwell’s presence in this fast-expanding market. René Joppi, was chosen for the position because of his vast experience in DALI, Lighting Controls, Emergency Lighting and software development, gained during his time with Zumtobel Group, plus his ability to advise on the legislation and regulations associated with emergency lighting in that region. 

Our friends at OLEDinfo have compiled news from several Korean sources confirming total investments in Samsung’s upcoming OLED TV panel fab might be higher than previous reports, and sheds light on the OLED technology the company will be utilizing.

There has been quite some activity in the Middle East and African lighting markets lately. One of Middle East’s largest LED installation projects has been rolled out by Dubai this week, and under the government project 160,000 LED light bulbs will be installed in 2,000 new houses. In Africa, the Zambian government’s decision to phase out incandescent bulbs has encouraged local LED manufacturer The Zambia Electrometer to scale up annual LED bulb production by four times to 2 million LED bulbs.

Crisp white LED streetlights rolled out by European and American cities have not always been welcomed by local residents, many have complained about its strong glare and unforgivingly powerful light beams streaming through windows that have been compared to transforming living rooms into football fields by upset residents.

Tridonic Jennersdorf GmbH, a subsidiary of Tridonic GmbH & Co KG, Dornbirn and part of the Zumtobel Group, has entered into a settlement agreement with the AOC International (Europe) B.V. and AOC International (Europe) GmbH for the use of silicate-based white LEDs. 

SoraaLaser, a world leader in commercialization of visible laser light sources, will present its innovative light source technology at Strategies in Light conference, March 1-3, in Santa Clara, CA. These advanced light sources feature unique performance properties such as collimated output and waveguide delivery, and provide compelling advantages over LED, OLED, and legacy sources in specialty lighting.

Panasonic Corporation, Japan, Panasonic Lighting Europe , Germany and Tridonic, a leading manufacturer of lighting components and part of the Zumtobel Group of Austria, today announced that they have entered into a patent license agreement. With this agreement the parties grant each other a license to use certain patents in the field of lighting electronics, mainly in the field of control and operation of LED light sources. The specific terms of the settlement will remain confidential.

The Zambia Electrometer has raised its LED bulb production to 2 million per year following the Zambian government’s decision to ban incandescent bulb imports, according to a report from the Times of Zambia.

Three major Pilot Lines, which help SMEs take photonics technologies from lab into market, have been launched today by the Photonics Public Private Partnership (PPP). The Pilot Lines mean that thousands of high tech SMEs in Europe - who often lack access to advanced, cost-intensive infrastructures and expertise needed to manufacture new and innovative products – will be able to take their good ideas, scale-them up and validate them with the first customers for commercial production. The Pilot Lines will focus on health applications, flexible organic light-emitting diodes and sensors for the detection of chemicals in gas and liquids. 

Technavio analysts forecast the global automotive organic light-emitting diode (OLED) marketto post a CAGR of more than 14% by 2019, according to their latest report.

North American quantum dot manufacturer Quantum Materials announced that the company has entered into a joint venture with Guanghui Technology Group (“GTG”) whereas GTG will invest US $20 Million for building out Quantum Materials QDX™ quantum dot production facilities and quantum dots application development in China. Embedding quantum dot production regionally allows Quantum Materials to work closely with clients to customize quantum dot characteristics to optimize manufacturing efficiencies as well as supply chain logistics.

Fourth Quarter 2015 Highlights Revenues of US $106.5 million, down 6% compared with the same period last year GAAP net loss per share of $0.25 and Non-GAAP earnings per share of $0.01 Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA of $4.4 million 

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will supply 2,000 existing and new homes from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MBRHE) project with 160,000 LED light bulbs and photovoltaic panels. The move aims to reduce the demand for energy as well as the long- and medium-term costs for electricity, the plan follows the signing of a MoU between DEWA and MBRHE in 2015.

PSCo are pleased to announce that they will be distributing Samsung’s much anticipated portfolio of LED in the UK and Ireland. PSCo have placed the first ever order for Samsung’s 1.5mm ultra fine pixel pitch LED as a demonstration unit for their Reading showroom, demonstrating their commitment to both Samsung and channel partners.

Osram is putting the focus on sustainable growth and wants to take even greater advantage of the potential offered by semiconductor-based lighting technologies. Prior to that, another important strategic step, the carve-out process of the general lighting lamps business, got under way. Given Osram’s strong financial standing, the company is proposing a dividend of €0.90 per share at Tuesday’s AGM. In parallel, Osram has in the meantime also started a share buyback program of up to €500 million.

At this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), OSRAM Licht AG Chief Executive Olaf Berlien gave details of the innovation and growth initiative to the lighting company’s shareholders. “Everyone’s talking about digitalization – but we’re investing in it,” Berlien said in Munich on Tuesday. “Only those who navigate through the dramatically changing lighting industry decisively and with courage and speed can be successful.” Through this initiative, Osram is putting the focus on sustainable growth and wants to take even greater advantage of the potential offered by semiconductor-based lighting technologies. Prior to that, another important strategic step, the carve-out process of the general lighting lamps business, got under way. “The operational carve-out is planned as of April 1, while the legal carve-out is planned as of July 1,” said Berlien, confirming the timeline announced earlier.

The Energy Efficiency Service Limited (EESL) has installed more than 600,000 LED streetlights across several cities in India under the energy service company (Esco) model, said Saurabh Kumar, managing director of Energy Efficiency Service Limited, reported by Times of India.

TOGGLED®, developer and producer of next-generation solid-state lighting technology and named in the Top 25 Most Innovative Companies in South East Michigan by Crain's Detroit, reported today the addition of Mega Lighting to its rapidly expanding Licensing Program.

Two startups ComfyLight and BeOn, which are developers of smart LED lights targeting the home security market announced success in acquiring additional financing backing this week.

Southeast Asian country Bhutan is starting to implement nationwide LED lighting upgrades with financial assistance from Norway government, reported Asia News Network.

Taiwan’s largest LED manufacturer Epistar has sold its Duxing factory in Hsinchu Science Park to IC design manufacturer Mediatek for NT$ 736 million (US $21.98 million), reported CNA.

The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change announced in late January awardees of its second Electricity Demand Reduction (EDR) Pilot auction.

India’s second largest online retailer Snapdeal has formed a partnership with the country’s state-owned Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) to sell LED bulbs nationwide for INR 99 (US $1.46), according to an Economic Times report.

Two weeks ahead of Valentines, GE published a heartbreaking online letter ending its long term relationship with CFL, while announcing its new passion for LEDs.The creatively written marketing stunt was highlighting an important announcement that GE will discontinue the manufacturing of CFL bulbs in the U.S. market, and shift its focus in the consumer lighting towards LED bulbs by the end of 2016.

With global crude oil prices crashing, the Middle East energy subsidies have also been swept away, reported The National Business.

Several Canadian municipalities are planning to invest CA $13 million (US $9.29 million) to replace 42,000 streetlights this year, reportedMetroland News.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh in India plans to replace traditional streetlights comprising of sodium, fluorescent and CFLs with LEDs, reported Dhaka Tribune.

Osram Licht AG's Malaysian unit, Osram Opto Semiconductors (M) Sdn Bhd, is setting up a research and development (R&D) center here to serve the general lighting and illumination sector in Asia.